He Became King Sejong’s Lifelong Prime Minister - Chapter 67

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Japanese Pirates Can Be Useful Too (5)

 

The Japanese have no integrity.

 

Among them, the Tsushima bastards are even cunning.

 

These bastards, then and now, are frantically trying to deceive Joseon and squeeze out anything more they can get.

 

“Deputy Envoy.”

 

“Yes, Chief Envoy.”

 

“Are you confident that if Joseon permits the Lord of Tsushima to trade, they will no longer disturb Joseon’s waters?”

 

“Though they are rotten to the core, they are sharper than anyone when it comes to their own profit.”

 

Chief Envoy Sinjang nodded his head as a sign of agreement.

 

“No matter how many Japanese Pirates they send, what they can plunder is nothing more than a few houses of poor Common People, some rice, and a few people to use as Slaves.”

 

“It’s uncomfortable to hear you speak so coldly when you’re known for your high spirit of loving the people.”

 

“To solve a problem, shouldn’t we set aside all emotions and examine the cause coldly?”

 

People called Criminal Psychology experts are said to know everything about how murderers think.

 

What emotions they feel while killing people, and how they think about human lives.

 

Furthermore, they’re said to empathize to the extent of understanding why they kill people.

 

Only by reaching that level can one understand criminals’ motives and devise measures to prevent crimes from occurring.

 

If I want to control the Japanese bastards, I should start by looking at them as they truly are.

 

“If we freely permit trade, they’ll be able to obtain as much Rice as they need to survive. Moreover, they’ll be able to sell Joseon’s silk, Porcelain, Ginseng, Flower-patterned Mat, and Mother-of-pearl Lacquerware to Daimyo or the Shogun to improve their impoverished livelihood.”

 

“So they’d lose their motivation for piracy.”

 

“Furthermore, the Lord of Tsushima and other Daimyo will eagerly crack down on Japanese Pirates heading to Joseon, unlike before, in order to maintain the benefits they enjoy from trade with Joseon.”

 

“Ruling Japan with profit rather than governing people with benevolence and righteousness. That’s truly a unique idea. Though I don’t like it… Joseon probably needs someone who thinks like you.”

 

“However, there’s one thing that worries me… Isn’t it true that habits formed at three don’t change even at eighty? So I’m concerned that Japanese Pirates who can’t abandon their old ways might all head to the ‘Ming Dynasty.'”

 

Chief Envoy Sinjang smiled at the mention that Japanese Pirates might be unleashed on the Ming Dynasty.

 

Indeed, there isn’t a single person in current Joseon who likes the Ming Dynasty.

 

Who would dislike being able to give those Ming Dynasty bastards a taste of Taffy?

 

While we were having our conversation, a Sailor approached us in the Ship Cabin and said:

 

“Chief Envoy, Deputy Envoy My Lord, we’ll arrive at Izuhara soon.”

 

We must have already arrived.

 

“Hurry and prepare to disembark.”

 

The two of us changed from our comfortable clothes into Court Robes.

 

When we came out onto the Ship Deck, hundreds of Samurai had come out to greet us at Izuhara Port.

 

Those bastards seem to be trying to show off how strong they are. But it wasn’t particularly frightening.

 

When the ship docked and we disembarked, one Samurai wearing the most splendid Armor approached us and escorted us to the castle with a very respectful attitude.

 

Upon arriving at Izuhara Castle, Chief Envoy Sinjang immediately read the royal decree.

 

“We are well aware that Tsushima Island is very impoverished because the land is barren and difficult to farm. Therefore, we shall specially bestow grace and permit free trade in Jeongui County of Jeju Island.”

 

Upon hearing those words, the Lord of Tsushima and his subordinate Samurai trembled slightly.

 

It wasn’t from fear, but from joy that their lives would flourish from now on.

 

Tears were even dripping from the eyes of an Old Man standing near the Lord of Tsushima.

 

“Lord of Tsushima So Sadamori shall strive to subjugate and control the evil Japanese Pirates, thereby repaying the royal grace.”

 

When the reading ended, Lord of Tsushima So Sadamori bowed according to Korean Etiquette.

 

Every movement was filled with gratitude toward King Sejong.

 

He even expressed his thanks in Korean, though clumsily.

 

“Your royal grace is overwhelming.”

 

After that, a banquet began to entertain us.

 

The Lord of Tsushima began praising the Joseon king without even wetting his lips.

 

He praised so eloquently and thoroughly that if only he had spoken in Korean…

 

He would have been such a natural-born sycophant of Joseon, his praise was so sickeningly skillful.

 

“This is truly a shameful story, but our Tsushima Island has failed to properly carry out His Majesty’s command to control the Japanese Pirates until now.”

 

The Lord of Tsushima nominally holds a higher rank than the Chief Envoy, who is a senior third-rank official.

 

That’s why he speaks so casually like this.

 

“Especially the disaster that occurred in the year of Gihae was, when you think about it, due to my failure to properly govern the Soda clan, who are my retainers, leading to the invasion of Joseon’s borders. Everything can be said to be my responsibility. Nevertheless, His Majesty bestowed his grace and opened a way for the people of Tsushima Island to make a living. I cannot dare express my gratitude in words.”

 

Shin Jang’s face softened slightly as he listened to the Lord of Tsushima’s words through the interpreter.

 

That person probably doesn’t completely believe the Lord of Tsushima’s words either, but he must have felt some sincerity in the words expressing boundless gratitude for the royal grace.

 

“I am also someone who received orders from the shogunate to manage Tsushima Island and guard the sea. So going against my words and acting as Japanese Pirates is the same as disobeying the Shogun’s commands.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“The Shogun truly looks up to Joseon after seeing Joseon’s beautiful culture and enlightenment, and exquisite items like porcelain and mother-of-pearl lacquerware.”

 

There’s an old saying that if you’re going to flatter someone, leave your pride at home and flatter them properly.

 

If you flatter well like that, you can repay even a thousand-nyang debt with just a few words.

 

The one who used this better than anyone else was Won Gyun, a Japanese daimyo who used hypnosis on King Seonjo to impeach Yi Sun-sin.

 

The Lord of Tsushima was no less wicked than Won Gyun, so he spouted lies very smoothly and shamelessly.

 

Since Joseon had no way to verify his words, they mistakenly believed that the Lord of Tsushima was a high minister of the Shogun with the authority and power to control Japanese Pirates… but I don’t believe that bastard’s words.

 

That’s because that guy is merely a retainer of the Shoni Clan, which is a great daimyo under the Shogun…

 

And he hasn’t even received the position of ‘Tsushima Shugo’ that he should have received as a symbol of the shogunate recognizing actual control over Tsushima Island.

 

“I will personally speak to the Shogun to ensure that Japanese Pirates do not invade Joseon.”

 

“If you do that, His Majesty will be very pleased.”

 

Shin Jang seems to have relaxed his guard somewhat due to the Lord of Tsushima’s attitude… but I don’t trust that bastard.

 

Rather than believe that bastard’s words, I’d rather believe the Won Gyun great general theory that claims Won Gyun was a famous general who was at least a rival to General Yi Sun-sin.

 

Or even the King Gojong enlightened monarch theory.

 

“I have specially prepared gifts for the chief envoy and deputy envoy.”

 

The Lord of Tsushima gestured to call over an attendant who was nearby.

 

The attendant handed each of us a lacquered box.

 

Then he also handed us papers with Chinese characters written on them.

 

The paper stated that the box contained 50 nyang of silver.

 

Shin Jang’s eyes lit up when he saw it, and he was beside himself with joy.

 

While Joseon was breaking its back paying tribute of about 700 nyang of silver annually to the Ming Dynasty bastards, the Lord of Tsushima could casually hand out 100 nyang of silver as a bribe.

 

Honestly, if I hadn’t known the circumstances, I would have made the same mistake.

 

Ah, even though the Lord of Tsushima always asks Joseon to send sesame and rice and such… he must actually be a Great Daimyo with tremendous power.

 

Something like that.

 

“This is my sincerity. Use it to supplement your household.”

 

While Shin Jang was still flustered, I answered on his behalf with a completely unperturbed expression.

 

“We gratefully accept. And here, please accept a cup of alcohol that I offer.”

 

“Much appreciated.”

 

We continued our conversation in the harmonious atmosphere created by the bribe.

 

The Lord of Tsushima asked what Joseon needed, and Shin Jang and I answered as honestly as possible, excluding classified information, both to earn our gifts and to fulfill Joseon’s needs.

 

These bastards would now focus on plundering—no, transporting those types of goods to Joseon.

 

Each time, the Ming Dynasty coastline would be devastated, but that’s not my concern.

 

When the banquet ended and everyone was heading to their rooms to sleep, I gave special instructions in Japanese to the attending samurai.

 

“Since the Lord of Tsushima has given me such a great gift, I wish to share valuable information about Joseon without the Chief Envoy knowing. So please tell the Lord of Tsushima that though it may be troublesome, I request some time tonight.”

 

“Yes, My Lord.”

 

“You must not tell anyone that I’m meeting the Lord separately in the middle of the night.”

 

In truth, Chief Envoy Shin Jang already knew in advance, and the high-ranking members of the diplomatic mission also already knew I would disappear midway.

 

However, since they knew I was carrying out a secret mission, they would officially ‘pretend not to know.’

 

So late that night, I got lost on my way to the bathroom and quite coincidentally entered the Lord of Tsushima’s room, where I was able to meet him alone.

 

The Lord of Tsushima’s face was full of smiles, perhaps because he had high expectations for the information I would secretly provide.

 

However, his smile immediately shattered at my single remark.

 

“Lord of Tsushima, you’re merely a vassal’s vassal of the Bakufu who hasn’t even received appointment as Shugo of Tsushima—by what means do you threaten to control the Japanese Pirates so boldly? Did you think Joseon wouldn’t know?”

 

The Lord of Tsushima’s face turned deathly pale.

 

“Joseon knows everything.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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